The FDA Classifies Cheerios as a Drug

This bit of news has been making its round around the Internet for a few weeks now, but it you haven’t heard, the Food and Drug Administration is classifying the cholesterol-lowering cereal as a drug.
In a letter to General Mills from the FDA, a passage states:
“Based on claims made on your product’s label, we have determined that your Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug,”
Since the marketing of the cereal focuses on the claim …

By Roland Buerk
BBC News, Tokyo
The Japanese are eating more meat than seafood, according to a new report from the government.
Figures show that in 2006, for the first time, the Japanese preferred meat over sushi. And in 2007 their appetite for meat increased even further.
The study said that changing lifestyles were responsible, with parents finding meat dishes quicker to prepare.
The government suggests supermarkets hold fish cookery demonstrations to help protect the seafood industry.
Despite these recent trends, people in Japan still eat more fish than those in any other major industrialised nation. …

From wftv.com

BACKGROUND: If you’re looking to slim down, there are plenty of foods out there to halt your diet success. Some of the worst to consume include:
1. Cheese fries: According to the book Eat This, Not That, an order of Aussie cheese fries with Ranch dressing from Outback Steakhouse contains 2,900 calories and 182 grams of fat. It’s on the Men’s Health “20 worst foods” list. The authors say this order is equivalent to eating 14 Krispy Kreme doughnuts before your dinner arrives.
2. Fried desserts: Fried desserts are another “worst” …

BLOOMBERG NEWS
Posted: 05/14/2009 08:46:02 AM PDT
Updated: 05/14/2009 08:46:03 AM PDT
Rising U.S. sales of acai, a purple Amazon berry promoted as a “superfood” on Oprah Winfrey’s Web site, are depriving Brazilian jungle dwellers of a protein-rich nutrient they’ve relied on for generations.
U.S. consumers are turning a “a typical poor people’s food into something like a delicacy,” said Oscar Nogueira, who specializes in the fruit at Embrapa, Brazil’s agricultural research company.
Spending on acai-based products by Americans seeking to lose weight, gain energy or slow aging doubled to $104 million last year, …

More than ever, pork needs your help.  The fear of a H1N1 swine flu pandemic has caused a decreased consumption of pork.  Despite the fact that the virus can’t be transmitted from eating pork, people aren’t taking chances.  Well, let me tell you this, if you don’t eat park, the swine flu wins!
Yeah, that’s not too convincing, but how about this tidbit?  According to the new book Fat by Jennifer McLagan, 45% of bacon fat is monounsaturated, meaning it aids in lowering bad cholesterol levels.  What’s more, the fat is …

Before you read this post, go ahead and list out what you think are the top ten most common ingredients in fast food.  Here’s my list, in no particular order.  Beef, chicken, bread, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayo, and salt.
Based on the list from HowStuffWorks.com, only 2 of the items I listed matched those listed on the website.  The findings might surprise you.
10.  Citric Acid – used as a preservative
9.  High-fructose Corn Syrup – a cheap sweetener
8.  Caramel Color – a color additive
7.  Salt – makes the food tasty
6.  …

Salt, once a form of currency and touted as a contributing factor in the development of civilization, might cause the end of today’s civilization.  The Center of Science in the Public Interest released a new report today warning about the unsafe levels of sodium in chain restaurant meals, and the numbers are staggering.
We all go out to eat, whether it be taking a break from cooking at home, or just going out to enjoy with others, seldom do we think about what goes into the ingredients in the food …

By James Hibberd, Reuters
ABC is teaming with British chef Jamie Oliver and Ryan Seacrest for a new series that gives healthy makeovers to an entire city.
Oliver will travel to the unhealthiest places in America and find ways to use nearby resources to improve local eating habits. The network has ordered six hours of the project from Ryan Seacrest Productions.
The series is loosely inspired on Oliver’s acclaimed school lunch project in the U.K., where the chef set about to improve kids’ nutrition. His effort to improve one school’s offerings, documented …

The “Free chicken giveaway” promotion by Oprah has caused overwhelming responses nationwide. There were reports that patrons were lining out the door and around the restaurant to get free pieces of chicken. Restaurants were unable to keep up with the anticipating customers and had to usher people away. In a statement last Thursday, President of KFC of USA, Roger Keaton says that restaurants nationwide will no longer accept the coupon for free chicken.  Instead, customers will be issued rain checks to be used at another time for a free grilled …

Photo: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times
The New York Times
May 6, 2009
The Minimalist
Freeze That Thought
By MARK BITTMAN
IF I tried to sell you a new appliance that could help you save money, reduce food waste and get meals on the table faster, the only thing you’d ask would be “How much?”
The answer is “Nothing.” You already own it. For just as the stove comes with a hidden and often overlooked bonus — the broiler — so does the refrigerator: the freezer. Why not use it?
I know: you do. In that messy box …